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When it comes to wet basements, the root of the problem can arise from both outside or inside the home. So when it’s time to waterproof your basement, it is important to look at several possible reasons to pinpoint the problem. Interior waterproofing methods, such as polyurethane injection can be extremely effective when targeting a specific crack or an interior drainage system for block foundations when a larger issue exists. Exterior waterproofing is typically a much larger undertaking and requires excavation and utility locates etc. That is why it is a good idea to consult a professional when considering waterproofing methods.
Exterior Waterproofing
Exterior waterproofing typically requires the excavation of the soil surrounding the foundation of the home. As you can imagine, this can be a labor-intensive process, requiring heavy tools and machinery. Once all the soil around the foundation has been removed, a waterproof membrane is applied to the exterior walls then covered with a protection board. New weeping tile is installed with a thick gravel bed. This membrane is a typically a polymer base, which should last for the life of the building
Interior Basement Waterproofing
If there is hydro static pressure and water is squeezing up through the cracks in the basement floor or rising up in the bottom layer of a block foundation then the best repair is an interior drainage system. You cannot seal hydro static pressure you can only relieve the pressure and drain it away. A trench about 1ft wide and 1ft deep is dug around the interior perimeter of the basement. Interior weeping tile with a gravel bed is then installed and either hooked into a floor drain or a sump pump to be evacuated. A dimpled drainage wrap is installed on the foundation wall and goes down below the floor level over the new weeping tile. The trench is then re-poured with cement.
Basement Cracks
Polyurethane injection with an interior drainage wrap installed over it can be an extremely effective system of repairing cracks in concrete. Polyurethane has a slight elastic quality to it and will allow slight movement to the foundation without tearing effectively creating a flexible expansion joint deterring other cracks from forming close by.
Weeping Tile Repairs
Weeping tiles are porous 4-inch pipes used to relieve underground water pressure. They were originally named at a time when terracotta tiles were used for drain pipes. Today’s products are plastic pipes with weep holes or small slits covered with a drainage sock designed to keep out the dirt and allow the water in, then redirect the water away from the home.
The plastic pipes are placed, into a trench around the outside perimeter of the home or inside under the basement floor. As ground water rises, it flows through the holes into the pipe. It then follows the pipe’s incline to discharge away from the house or to a sump pump where it is pumped away.
Installing weeping tile can be back-breaking work so engaging a professional like Crawford and Son’s is definitely recommended.